Circuit for acoustic distance time of flight compensation

ABSTRACT

In one form, an acoustic signal is generated for an acoustic transducer, where the acoustic transducer transmits the acoustic signal to determine a first position of an obstacle. In response to the acoustic signal encountering the obstacle within a predetermined distance, an echo, or pulse, is detected at the acoustic transducer. At a first time, a magnitude is detected in response to a rising edge of the pulse intersecting a determined threshold. A second magnitude is detected in response to the detection of a first peak of the pulse. A time of flight of the acoustic signal, within the predetermined distance, is determined when a compensation time is extracted from a correction calculation algorithm in response to detecting the first magnitude and the second magnitude. The compensation time is subtracted from the first time, and the difference of the compensation time and the first time is the time of flight.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to electrical and electroniccircuits, and more particularly to acoustic distance measuring systems.

BACKGROUND

Acoustic measuring systems and distance measuring systems are utilizedin a variety of applications. For example, acoustic measuring systemsare utilized to measure obstacle distance in applications ranging fromautomotive systems to fossil discovery. Acoustic measuring systemsgenerally operate by first transmitting a pulse of acoustic energy,creating a sound wave. Then a measurement of the time of flight of thesound wave is recorded. The time of flight, which is the time fromtransmission of the sound wave until a reflection of the sound wave isreceived, determines the distance of the obstacle. Automotiveapplications that utilize acoustic measuring systems require reliabledetection of the presence of an obstacle. Currently, the reliabledetection of obstacles may be opposed by the complex shape of obstacles,as well as environmental and electrical noise causing false obstacledetection.

Acoustic measuring systems often utilize acoustic transducers both totransmit the generated sound wave, and to receive the reflected signal,or echo signal. A standard approach to measuring the distance of anobstacle is to report the time of flight of an object once the echosignal crosses a threshold. However, dependence on the time when an echosignal crosses a threshold is not reliable. Reliability of this methodmay vary with the fluctuation of the envelope shape of the echo signal.Additionally, as the threshold varies, the time of flight reported forthe same obstacle at a same distance will also vary. Accuracy ofacoustic measuring systems is important. Errored object detection couldbe detrimental in automotive and other acoustic measuring applications.Therefore, avoiding skewed object detection related to an error in anobject's shape, an object's height, or due to the detection system'sthreshold configuration is important. Accuracy in time of flightcalculations insures proper acoustic measuring system functionality andrelated reliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may be better understood, and its numerousfeatures and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form an acoustic distance measuringsystem according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram form an acoustic distance measuringcircuit for use in the acoustic distance measuring system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram form the sensing circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a timing diagram depicting acoustic signals receivedby the acoustic distance measuring system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a timing diagram for reporting time of flight with afixed delay over a real time communication bus according to anembodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates graphs showing the effects of a distance varyingthreshold when an object is detected at a first and second distancerelative to the acoustic sensor of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for reporting thecompensated time of flight of a detected obstacle according to anembodiment.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items. Unless otherwise noted, the word “coupled”and its associated verb forms include both direct connection andindirect electrical connection by means known in the art, and unlessotherwise noted any description of direct connection implies alternateembodiments using suitable forms of indirect electrical connection aswell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figuresare not necessarily to scale, are only schematic, and are non-limiting.Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elementsare omitted for simplicity of the description. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the words “during”, “while”, and “when” asused herein relating to circuit operation are not exact terms that meanan action takes place instantly upon an initiating action but that theremay be some small but reasonable delay, such as a propagation delay,between the reaction that is initiated by the initial action.Additionally, the term “while” means that a certain action occurs atleast within some portion of a duration of the initiating action. Theuse of the word “approximately” or “substantially” means that a value ofan element has a parameter that is expected to be close to a statedvalue or position. However, as is well known in the art there may beminor variances that may prevent the values or positions from beingexactly as stated.

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form an acoustic distance measuringsystem 100 according to one embodiment. Acoustic distance measuringsystem 100 in FIG. 1 includes an automotive device 102, a bodycontroller module (BCM) 104, a loudspeaker 164, a set of transmissionlines 112, a set of sensors 110, and an obstacle 120. A systemcontroller, such as BCM 104, is situated on or within automotive device102, and provides an electrical signal corresponding to an audibleoutput to loudspeaker 164.

Automotive device 102 is communicatively connected to BCM 104. BCM 104has an output for connecting to one or more acoustic transducers, suchas sensors 110. BCM 104 has an input also connected to each of sensors110. Additionally, BCM 104 has an output for providing an output signalto loudspeaker 164. In one embodiment, sensors 110 is an ultrasonicsensor that emits an ultrasonic pulse, or acoustic signal as describedherein, that reflects off of obstacle 120 when obstacle 120 is withinthe wave filed of the acoustic signal. The acoustic signal is generallyemitted above frequencies of audible sound. The reflected pulse signal,or echo, is received by sensor 110. Detection of the echo generates anoutput signal for use by BCM 104. Each of sensors 110 is capable ofcreating an acoustic signal, and sensing a reflected pulse signal, orecho, when obstacle 120 is encountered.

In the illustrated embodiment, BCM 104 operates as a controller for anacoustic distance measuring system 100, generating an acoustic signalfor sensors 110 at a first time. Sensors 110 are susceptible toreceiving echo signals when a transmitted acoustic signal encounters anobstacle. The received echo signals are utilized to define a detectabledistance 132. BCM 104 transmits signals to sensors 110, via transmissionlines 112, and responsively, sensors 110 output the acoustic signals.The acoustic signal generated by each sensor 110 travels away fromsensor 110 and propagates through air. When BCM 104 stops transmissionof the acoustic signal, BCM 104 monitors sensors 110 for echo signalsthat may be caused by interruptions to the propagating acoustic signal.When obstacle 120 is detected, an echo is received at one of sensors110. The received echo signal is processed by sensor 110 to determine acorrected time of flight in which the acoustic signal encountersobstacle 120. The corrected time of flight is transmitted to BCM 104,via transmission lines 112. BCM 104 reports detection of object 120 withrespect to the surface of object 120 that is closest to sensor 110.Reliable detection for obstacles of varying shapes, height, and obscuredimensions, is needed. Additionally, avoiding false obstacle detectiondue to varying thresholds during severe noise conditions is a desirablecharacteristic. Acoustic distance measuring system 100 compensates forthese problems as described further.

FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram form an acoustic distance measuringcircuit 200 for use in the acoustic distance measuring system of FIG. 1.Acoustic distance measuring circuit 200 includes a controller 204, afrequency generator 208, a transmitter amplifier 212, an acoustictransducer 214, a receiver amplifier 216, and sensing circuit 220.

Controller 204 is connected to frequency generator 208. A control signalis output to frequency generator 208 from controller 204. Additionally,controller 204 has at least one output terminal for outputting adetermined threshold. Controller 204 has an input terminal for receivinga signal for the corrected time of flight. Controller 204 may be, forexample, a BCM, an electronic control unit, or a control system thatoperates the acoustic distance measuring system of FIG. 1. Controller204 operates the acoustic distance measuring system of FIG. 1 byoutputting the control signal to frequency generator 208, as well as byreceiving the corrected time of flight signal processed when sensingcircuit 220 receives echo signals at acoustic transducer 214.

Frequency generator 208 has an input terminal for receiving the controlsignal, and an output terminal, connected to transmitter amplifier 212.Frequency generator 208 generates an electrical signal, which istransmitted to transducer 214 via transmitter amplifier 212.

Transmitter amplifier 212 has an input for receiving the electricalsignal from frequency generator 208. The output of transmitter amplifier212, connected to acoustic transducer 214, is for providing an amplifiedelectrical signal to acoustic transducer 214.

Acoustic transducer 214 has an input terminal for receiving theamplified electrical signal. Additionally, acoustic transducer 214 hasan output terminal adapted to transmit a generated pulse signal, oracoustic signal. Acoustic transducer 214 may be, for example, apiezoelectric sensor.

Receiver amplifier 216 has an input for connecting to acoustictransducer 214 and an output. The output of receiver amplifier 216,connected to sensing circuit 220, transmits the received pulse signal.

Sensing circuit 220 has an input connected to the output of receiveramplifier 216, an input for receiving a threshold, and an output forproviding the corrected time of flight measurement in response todetection of the threshold. The threshold is a time varying signal,configured by controller 204. The threshold is configured according tothe dimensional position of acoustic transducer 214, and in response toa measured effect of the background noise detected by acoustictransducer 214 to avoid false detection of obstacles. The determinedthreshold is utilized by sensing circuit 220 for defining a minimalmagnitude for a received pulse to cross, above a noise level, in orderto detect an obstacle in response to the transmission of the acousticsignal from the acoustic transducer. Sensing circuit 220 reports thebeginning of the echo, or pulse signal, as the time of flight, where thebeginning of the pulse signal indicates the closest obstacle surface toacoustic transducer 214.

In operation, controller 204 provides the control signal to frequencygenerator 208. Frequency generator 208 generates a signal and providesthe generated signal to transmitter amplifier 212 as an electricalsignal, at a first time. Transmitter amplifier 212 amplifies the powerof the signal generated by frequency generator 208 and provides theelectrical signal to acoustic transducer 214. When transmitter amplifier212 is not implemented, frequency generator 208 provides theun-amplified signal to acoustic transducer 214. Acoustic transducer 214vibrates and generates a signal that corresponds to the input signalprovided. The acoustic signal generated by acoustic transducer 214vibrates and travels away from acoustic transducer 214. Receiveramplifier 216 monitors acoustic transducer 214 for echo signals,amplifies received echo signals, and then transmits the pulse signal tosensing circuit 220. Sensing circuit 220 utilizes the received pulsesignal in addition to the input of the threshold to determine thecorrected time of flight of the acoustic signal. The corrected time offlight is reported to controller 204.

FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram form a sensing circuit 300 that canbe used as sensing circuit 220 of FIG. 2. Sensing circuit 300 includesgenerally a controller 204, an analog to digital convertor 320, adigital filter 322, a rising edge detector 324, a peak detector 326, acorrection algorithm module 328, a time of flight correction calculationmodule 330, a quality (Q) factor delay value block 332, a time of flightalgorithm module 334, and a transducer quality (Q) factor delay valueblock 336.

Analog-to-digital converter 320 has an input connected to the output ofa receiver amplifier (for example, receiver amplifier 216 of FIG. 2) forreceiving an input signal, and an output. Digital filter 322 has aninput connected to the output of analog to digital converter 320, and anoutput for providing a Q factor time delay value at Q factor delay valueblock 332, and an output for providing a filtered signal.

Rising edge detector 324 has an input coupled to the output of digitalfilter 322, and an output for providing a first magnitude and a firsttime of when a rising edge of the pulse signal received from digitalfilter 322 intersects the threshold.

Peak detector 326 has an input coupled to the output of digital filter322, and an output for providing a magnitude of the pulse signalreceived from digital filter 322 at a peak time. The magnitude of thepulse signal is received in response to detecting an obstacle within apredefined distance relative to the acoustic transducer according to thefiltered pulse signal.

Correction algorithm module 328 has an input coupled to the rising edgedetector and the peak detector, and an output for providing a correctionratio. The correction ratio is a ratio of the first magnitude of when arising edge of the magnitude of the pulse received from the receiveramplifier intersects the threshold, at a first time, and the magnitudeof the pulse received from the acoustic transducer at the peak time.

Time of flight correction calculation module 330 has an input coupled tothe output of the correction algorithm module 328, an input forreceiving the output of digital filter Q factor time delay value block332, an input for receiving the output of acoustic transducer Q factortime delay value block 336, and an output for providing a compensationtime for calculating a corrected time of flight of an acoustic signal inresponse to encountering the obstacle, at a first position, within thepredefined distance relative to the acoustic transducer, according tothe filtered signal.

Time of flight module 334 has an input coupled to an output of peakdetector 326, an input coupled to the output of time of flightcorrection calculation module 330, and an output for providing thecorrected time of flight of an acoustic signal in response to theacoustic signal encountering the obstacle.

In operation, sensing circuit 300 receives an input signal, where theinput signal includes the pulse received from receiver amplifier 216 (ofFIG. 2) resulting from echo signals provided by acoustic transducer 214(of FIG. 2) produced by reflections off physical objects. Sensingcircuit 300 filters the signal received from acoustic transducer 214,and provides an output corresponding to the corrected time of flight ofthe acoustic signals with respect to the acoustic signal transmitted viaacoustic transducer 214. Controller 204 transmits the configuredthreshold to the sensing circuit. Analog-to-digital convertor 320digitizes the input signal received. Digital filter 322 receives thedigitized input signal and provides the filtered pulse signal to risingedge detector 324 and peak detector 326. The rising edge of the filteredpulse signal is detected by rising edge detector 324 at a point wherethe rising edge intersects the threshold. In response to detecting therising edge of the pulse, the time that the rising edge intersects thethreshold and the magnitude that the rising edge meets the threshold arestored for use in calculating the corrected time of flight. Peakdetector 326 detects the peak magnitude of the filtered pulse signal. Inresponse to detecting the peak magnitude of the pulse, peak detector 326stores the peak magnitude as the second magnitude for use in determiningthe corrected time of flight. Peak detection is performed subsequent tothe filtered pulse signal passing the threshold a first time, and isvalid while the filtered pulse signal is above the threshold.

Further, subsequent to detecting the magnitude when the rising edgeintersects the threshold (first magnitude) and the peak magnitude(second magnitude) of the filtered signal, the first and second detectedmagnitudes are utilized in calculating the corrected time of flight. Aratio of the first magnitude and the second magnitude is determined bycorrection algorithm module 328. The ratio of the first magnitude andthe second magnitude is multiplied by a factor of one hundred. The valueof the determined ratio is utilized at time of flight correctioncalculation module 330. At time of flight correction calculation module330, a correction look up table or a correction algorithm is utilized tofurther determine a compensation time. The compensation time is theamount of time utilized to adjust the originally detected time offlight. The adjustment, utilizing the compensation time, determines thecorrected start of the pulse in response to when the acoustic signalencounters the obstacle.

Additionally, to timely transmit the corrected time of flight tocontroller 204 in response to when the acoustic signal encounters theobstacle, at least one of Q factor delay 332 and transducer Q factordelay 336 are factored into the calculation at time of flight correctioncalculation 330. Time of flight algorithm module 334 provides thecorrected time of flight to controller 204 when the compensation time,provided by the output of time of flight correction calculation module330, is subtracted from the first time of when the rising edge of themagnitude of the pulse received from the receiver amplifier intersectsthe threshold, as determined at rising edge detector 324.

In one embodiment, the Q factor time delay of digital filter 322 andtransducer 214 determine a maximum time to receive transmission of apulse measurement before a time of flight measurement is provided tocontroller 204. Digital filter quality factor time delay 332 determinesthe time delay need for sensing circuit 300 to provide the correctedtime of flight to controller 204 with accurate timing. The value ofdigital filter Q factor time delay 332 is dynamically selected when thefirst magnitude of the pulse is detected at rising edge detector 324. Asan increase in digital filter Q factor time delay 332 is detected, aresponse time of digital filter 322 automatically increases. However, inresponse to detection of a value for digital filter Q factor time delay332 that is below a predetermined Q factor time delay value, transducerQ factor time delay 336 is dynamically input when the magnitude of thepulse is detected. Integrating the dynamically determined fixed delayinto the time of flight correction algorithm enables a sensing circuitto properly compensate for the time needed to transmit the correctedtime of flight to controller 204, thereby enabling increased accuracy ofobstacle detection while maintaining an accurate, real-time reporting,of the corrected time of flight.

In another embodiment, digital filter Q factor is fixed when transducer214 receives the echo pulse signal. A digital filter Q factor isselected to improve performance of sensing circuit 300. For example, thedigital filter Q factor is a predetermined Q factor in the range of Q5to Q20. A high value for digital filter 322 enables digital filter 322to achieve a high signal to noise ratio, or increased noise suppression.However, Doppler performance of digital filter 322 is less than optimalwhen a high Q factor value is selected. When a low value for the digitalfilter Q factor is selected, Doppler performance of sensing circuit 200is better; however, the signal to noise ratio is low, enabling lessnoise to be suppressed. The pulse rise time is dependent on the selectedQ factor of digital filter 322; therefore, digital filter Q factor timedelay 332 is a factor in reporting the corrected time of flight of theacoustic signal to controller 204. For example, for a quality factorvalue of Q5 for digital filter 322, the time for pulse signal to risefrom 50% to 100% is half the time it takes for the pulse signal to risefrom 50% to 100% in the case of a Q10 quality factor value. For low Qdigital filter settings transducer Q factor time delay 336 is utilizedto determine the corrected time of flight. In one embodiment, the valuefor the digital filter Q factor is a predetermined Q factor value. Thedigital filter Q factor is selected prior to the onset of a measurement,and remains the same Q factor for the duration of the measurement. Inanother embodiment, at least one of a low Q factor and a high Q factoris selected to correspond to a predefined measurement distance. In oneexample, the reflections received from an obstacle at a close distance(for example less than 2.4 meters), benefits from an improved signal tonoise ratio; therefore, a higher (or increased) Q factor is applied.

FIG. 4 illustrates a time of flight correction diagram 400, depicting afiltered pulse signal received by sensing circuit 300 of FIG. 3, and anexemplary correction look up table 440. Within time of flight correctiondiagram 400, time is represented on a time axis 412 and the verticalaxis represents the magnitude of various signals in volts. Additionally,time of flight diagram 400 includes a pulse measurement waveform 406, athreshold magnitude 404, a peak magnitude 402, a waveform 408illustrating an echo comparison signal, a waveform 410 illustrating acorrected echo comparison signal, compensation time 418, time of flightmeasurement 414, and rising edge time 416. Example correction look uptable 440 includes compensation time 418, and correction ratio 442.

Time of flight correction diagram 400 shows a correction applied tofiltered pulse 406. Rising edge detector 324 detects when pulsemeasurement 406 intersects threshold magnitude 404, and the magnitude atthe intersecting point is recorded as the first magnitude. A secondmagnitude, peak magnitude 402, detected by peak detector 326 is recordedas the highest peak of pulse measurement 406 before the pulse signalintersects threshold 404 a second time. Subsequent to receivingthreshold magnitude 404 and peak magnitude 402, correction algorithm 328determines the value of correction ratio 442. Correction ratio 442 isutilized to determine compensation time 418 via selecting the value ofcorrection ratio 442 on a graphical plot with a finite selection ofpoints, and then determine compensation time 418, according to thevalues associated with example correction look up table 440. Time offlight correction calculation 330 determines compensation time 418.Although an example look up table is utilized in this illustration, analgorithm can be utilized without the use of a look up table todetermine compensation time 418. Further, the corrected time of flight,time of flight measurement 414, is calculated by subtractingcompensation time 418 from rising edge time 416, as provided at time offlight algorithm 334. The corrected time of flight is reported tocontroller 204. Waveform 408 and waveform 410 within time of flightcorrection diagram 400 illustrate the vast adjustment time associatedwith calculating the corrected time of flight when pulse measurement 406is received.

FIG. 5 illustrates timing diagram 500. Timing diagram 500 includes apulse signal 510, an input/output (I/O) line communication 520, and anI/O line communication 530. Pulse signal 510, situated on a y-axis 502and an x-axis 512 includes a peak detection 508, a threshold 504, a timeof flight 514, a first detection 516, and a detection time 518. I/O linecommunication 520 includes y-axis 502, x-axis 512, signal 522, and apost detection fixed delay 524. I/O line communication 530 includesy-axis 502, x-axis 512, signal 532, and a Q factor time delay 534.

Within timing diagram 500, pulse signal 510 is received at transducer214 when a transmitted acoustic signal encounters and obstacle. Themagnitude of pulse signal 510 is reported on y-axis 502. The time spanof the pulse signal measurement is reported on the y-axis. Threshold 504represents a sufficient magnitude to detect the presence of an obstacle.At first detection 516 the magnitude of the received pulse intersectsthreshold 504. Peak detection 508 is the maximum detected point of theobstacle, above threshold 504. Obstacle detection is active while pulsesignal 510 is above threshold 504.

I/O line communication 520 illustrates how pulse signal 510 iscommunicated via the I/O line when a post measurement fixed delay isapplied. For example, when pulse signal intersects threshold 504, pulsesignal 510 crosses the threshold at first detection 516 and is reportedvia the I/O line to controller 204 as signal 522 having a falling edge.The low pulse identifies the width of pulse signal 510, whichcorresponds to detection time 518. The I/O line rising edge, illustratedas fixed delay 524, identifies when pulse signal 510 drops belowthreshold 504, thereby corresponding to when to initiate a lag time forreporting the time of flight to controller 204.

As an alternative to this post measurement fixed delay, sensing circuit300 factors into the algorithm of the corrected time of flight, a Qfactor fixed delay, during the receipt of the pulse signal 510. IO linecommunication 530 illustrates how pulse signal 510 is communicated viathe IO line when a Q factor fixed delay is associated with sensingcircuit 300. For example, pulse signal 510 is represented by signal 532as a falling edge when pulse signal 510 falls below threshold 510. Thefalling edge of signal 532 corresponds with the completion of detectiontime 518. Q factor delay 534 is factored into detection time 518;therefore, an additional delay, such as fixed delay 524, is avoided.

To further explain the incorporation of Q factor time delay intodetection time 518, in one example, the Q factor time delay 534 isdetermined when a pulse signal 516 intersects threshold 504. Pulsesignal 510 is received at transducer 214. In response to receiving firstdetection 516, the duration of Q factor time delay 534 is determined. Qfactor time delay 534 determines a maximum time to receive transmissionof pulse signal 510 before time of flight measurement 514 is provided tocontroller 205. Sensing circuit 330 determines when Q factor time delay534 is greater than detection time 518. In response to Q factor timedelay 534 being less than detection time 518, Q factor time delay isdynamically increased, thereby increasing the response time of theassociated component, such as digital filter 322 and transducer 214. Inresponse to Q factor time delay 534 being greater than detection time518 a corrected Q factor time delay is provided. In one embodiment, apredetermined fixed time delay is utilized corresponding to a maximum Qfactor of at least one of digital filer 322 and transducer 214.

FIG. 6 illustrates a chart depicting the effects of a distance varyingthreshold when an object is detected at a first and second distancerelative to an acoustic sensor. Time of flight compensation chart 600includes distance 610, threshold 612, piezo A disabled 602, piezo Bdisabled 604, piezo A enabled 606, and piezo B enabled 608. Time offlight compensation chart 630 includes distance 610, threshold 612,piezo A disabled 632, piezo B disabled 634, piezo A enabled 636, andpiezo B enabled 638.

Time of flight compensation chart 600 illustrates a sensor, for example,an amplitude modulated sensor and frequency chirp sensor, that receivean echo signal when an obstacle is encountered at a distance of twometers, during a time of flight measurement. Within time of flightcompensation chart 600 distance 610 is the measured distance of theobstacle in centimeters, threshold 612 corresponds to the variance inthe magnitude of the threshold reported, piezo A disabled 602corresponds to a piezo electronic device, for example frequency chirpsensor, in which the time of flight compensation is disabled. Likewise,piezo B disabled 604 corresponds to a piezo electronic device, forexample, amplitude modulation sensor, in which the time of flightcompensation is also disabled. Similarly, piezo A enabled 606 and piezoB enabled 608 correspond to frequency chirp sensors and amplitudemodulation sensors, respectively, in which the time of flightcompensation is enabled.

In the example of time of flight compensation chart 600, piezo Adisabled 602 and piezo B disabled 604 simulate a variance of nearlythree centimeters when the predetermined threshold varies from 10 to 60with respect to the magnitude of threshold 612. Contrastingly, for piezoA enabled 606 and piezo B enabled 608 a negligible variance of onecentimeter is identified when the predetermined threshold varies from 10to 60 with respect to the magnitude of threshold 612. Enabling time offlight compensation increases the accuracy of the measurement by atleast two centimeters. Further, the enabling of time of flightcompensation illustrates the time of flight is not largely affected bythe predetermined threshold when time of flight compensation is enabled.

Time of flight compensation chart 630 illustrates a sensor, for examplean amplitude modulated sensor and frequency chirp sensor, that receivean echo signal when an obstacle is encountered at a distance of threemeters, during a time of flight measurement. Within time of flightcompensation chart 630 distance 610 is the measured distance of theobstacle in centimeters, threshold 612 corresponds to the variance inthe magnitude of the threshold reported, piezo A disabled 632corresponds to a piezo electronic device, for example frequency chirpsensor, in which the time of flight compensation is disabled. Likewise,piezo B disabled 634 corresponds to a piezo electronic device, forexample, amplitude modulation sensor, in which the time of flightcompensation is also disabled. Similarly, piezo A enabled 636 and piezoB enabled 638 correspond to frequency chirp sensors and amplitudemodulation sensors, respectively, in which the time of flightcompensation is enabled.

In the example of time of flight compensation chart 630, piezo Adisabled 632 and piezo B disabled 634 simulate a variance of nearly twoto three centimeters when the predetermined threshold varies from 10 to60 with respect to the magnitude of threshold 612. Contrastingly, forpiezo A enabled 636 and piezo B enabled 638, a negligible variance ofone centimeter or less is identified when the predetermined thresholdvaries from 10 to 60 with respect to the magnitude of threshold 612.With an increase in distance between the sensor and detectable object,enabling time of flight compensation increases the accuracy of themeasurement by at least two centimeters. Further, once again theenabling of time of flight compensation illustrates the time of flightis not affected by the predetermined threshold when time of flightcompensation is enabled.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of method 700 for detecting anobstacle with time of flight compensation enabled. At block 702 anacoustic signal for an acoustic transducer at a first time is generated.A pulse is detected at the acoustic transducer, in response to theacoustic signal encountering an obstacle at block 704. At block 706,when the rising edge of the pulse intersects a threshold is detected.The first time and the first magnitude of the pulse at the intersectedpoint are stored at block 908. At block 710, the peak magnitude of thereceived pulse is detected. The peak magnitude is stored as the secondmagnitude of the received pulse, at block 712. At block 714, a ratio ofthe first magnitude and the second magnitude, multiplied by 100, areprovided to a correction look up table. A compensation time is extractedfrom the correction look up table at block 716. The compensation time issubtracted from the first time, at block 718, to determine a compensatedtime of flight. At block 720 the first position of the obstacle isdetermined since the compensated time of flight corresponds to the firstposition of the obstacle. The compensated time of flight is reported tothe controller, at block 722, at a time equivalent to less than the Qfactor time delay. The process concludes at the end block.

While the subject matter is described with specific preferredembodiments and example embodiments, the foregoing drawings anddescriptions thereof depict only typical embodiments of the subjectmatter and are not therefore to be considered as limiting of its scope,and many alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilledin the art. Inventive aspects of the present disclosure may lie in lessthan all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

Furthermore, some embodiments described herein include some but notother features included in other embodiments, and therefore combinationsof features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope ofthe disclosure, and form different embodiments, as would be understoodby those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An acoustic distance measuring circuit,comprising: a transmitter amplifier having an output adapted to becoupled to an acoustic transducer that provides an acoustic signalthereto and that provides an acoustic transducer quality factor timedelay; a receiver amplifier having an input adapted to be coupled to theacoustic transducer that receives a pulse, and an output; a controllerthat provides a threshold that defines a time varying magnitude signalin response to a dimensional position of the acoustic transducer and inresponse to a measured effect of background noise detected by theacoustic transducer; and a sensing circuit having an input coupled tothe output of the receiver amplifier, and an output that provides acorrected time of flight measurement in response to detection of thethreshold, that defines a time for the acoustic signal to travel to afirst position of an obstacle in response to transmission of theacoustic signal from the acoustic transducer, and that detects theobstacle within a predefined distance relative to the acoustictransducer, wherein the sensing circuit determines a first time when thepulse crosses a first threshold, a peak of the pulse, a correction ratioof the first threshold to the peak of the pulse, a compensation timecorresponding to the correction ratio, and an adjusted time of flight inresponse to a difference of the first time and the compensation time. 2.The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 1, wherein the sensingcircuit comprises: a digital filter having an input coupled to theoutput of the receiver amplifier, an output that provides a filteredsignal, and an output that provides a digital filter quality factor timedelay; a rising edge detector having an input coupled to the output ofthe digital filter, and an output that provides a first magnitude andthe first time of when a rising edge of the pulse received from thereceiver amplifier intersects the threshold; and a peak detector havingan input coupled to the output of the digital filter, and an output thatprovides a magnitude of the pulse received from the receiver amplifierat a peak time, in response to detecting the obstacle within thepredefined distance relative to the acoustic transducer according to thefiltered signal.
 3. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 2,wherein the sensing circuit comprises: a first correction module havingan input coupled to the rising edge detector and the peak detector, andan output that provides the correction ratio, wherein the correctionratio is a ratio of the first magnitude of when the rising edge of thepulse received from the receiver amplifier intersects the threshold andthe magnitude of the pulse received from the acoustic transducer at thepeak time; and a time of flight correction calculation module having aninput coupled to the output of the first correction module, an inputthat receives the digital filter quality factor time delay, an inputthat receives the acoustic transducer quality factor time delay, and anoutput that provides the compensation time and that calculates acorrected time of flight of the acoustic signal in response toencountering the obstacle, at the first position, within the predefineddistance relative to the acoustic transducer according to the filteredsignal.
 4. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 3, whereinthe sensing circuit further comprises a time of flight module having aninput coupled to an output of the peak detector, an input coupled to theoutput of the time of flight correction calculation module, and anoutput that provides the corrected time of flight of the acoustic signalin response to the acoustic signal encountering the obstacle.
 5. Theacoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 4, wherein the firstcorrection module further multiplies the ratio by a factor of onehundred.
 6. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 4, whereinthe time of flight module provides the corrected time of flight when thecompensation time, provided by the output of the time of flightcorrection calculation module, is subtracted from the first time of whenthe rising edge of the magnitude of the pulse received from the receiveramplifier intersects the threshold.
 7. The acoustic distance measuringcircuit of claim 4, wherein the digital filter quality factor time delayis dynamically selected when the magnitude of the pulse is detected. 8.The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 4, wherein the digitalfilter quality factor time delay dynamically determines a delay time ofthe sensing circuit.
 9. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim8, wherein in response to detection of the digital filter quality factortime delay below a predetermined quality factor time delay, a transducerquality factor time delay is dynamically input when the magnitude of thepulse is detected.
 10. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim8, wherein as an increase in the digital filter quality factor timedelay is detected, a response time of the digital filter automaticallyincreases.
 11. An acoustic distance measuring system, comprising: atransmitter amplifier that provides an acoustic signal thereto and thatprovides an acoustic transducer quality factor time delay; a receiveramplifier that receives a pulse; a controller that provides a thresholdthat defines a time varying magnitude signal in response to adimensional position of an acoustic transducer and in response to ameasured effect of background noise detected by the acoustic transducer;a sensing circuit that provides a corrected time of flight measurementin response to detection of the threshold, for defining a time for theacoustic signal to travel to a first position of an obstacle in responseto transmission of the acoustic signal from the acoustic transducer, andthat detects the obstacle within a predefined distance relative to theacoustic transducer; a digital filter that provides a filtered signal,and a digital filter quality factor time delay; a rising edge detectorthat provides a first magnitude and a first time of when a rising edgeof the pulse received from the receiver amplifier intersects thethreshold; a peak detector that provides a second magnitude of the pulsereceived from the receiver amplifier at a peak time, in response todetecting the obstacle within the predefined distance relative to theacoustic transducer according to the filtered signal; a first correctionmodule for providing a correction ratio as a ratio of the firstmagnitude to the second magnitude; a time of flight correctioncalculation module that provides a compensation time corresponding tothe correction ratio; and a time of flight module that provides acorrected time of flight of the acoustic signal as a difference betweenthe first time and the compensation time.
 12. An acoustic distancemeasuring circuit, comprising: an acoustic signal generating circuitthat provides an electrical pulse signal and having an output adapted tobe coupled to an acoustic transducer; and a receiving circuit having afirst input adapted to be coupled to the acoustic transducer, a secondinput that receives a threshold, and an output that provides a correctedtime of flight measurement, wherein the receiving circuit detects a timeof flight in response to a received signal crossing the threshold, andadjusts the time of flight according to a ratio of the threshold to apeak of the received signal.
 13. The acoustic distance measuring circuitof claim 12, further comprising: a controller having an output coupledto the second input of the receiving circuit that provides the thresholdin response to a dimensional position of the acoustic transducer and inresponse to a measured effect of background noise detected by theacoustic transducer.
 14. The acoustic distance measuring circuit ofclaim 13, wherein the acoustic signal generating circuit comprises: afrequency generator having an input coupled to the controller, and anoutput that provides a pulse signal; and a transmitter amplifier havingan input coupled to the output of the frequency generator, and an outputadapted to be coupled to the acoustic transducer that provides theelectrical pulse signal.
 15. The acoustic distance measuring circuit ofclaim 12, wherein the receiving circuit comprises: a receiver amplifierhaving an input adapted to be coupled to the acoustic transducer, and anoutput; and a sensing circuit having a first input coupled to the outputof the receiver amplifier, a second input that receives the threshold,and an output that provides the corrected time of flight measurement.16. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 15, wherein thereceiving circuit further comprises: a digital filter having an inputcoupled to the output of the receiver amplifier, an output that providesa filtered signal, and an output that provides a digital filter qualityfactor time delay; a rising edge detector having an input coupled to theoutput of the digital filter, and an output that provides a firstmagnitude and a first time of when a rising edge of a pulse receivedfrom the receiver amplifier intersects the threshold; and a peakdetector having an input coupled to the output of the digital filter,and an output that provides a magnitude of the pulse received from thereceiver amplifier at a peak time, in response to detecting an obstaclewithin a predefined distance relative to the acoustic transduceraccording to the filtered signal.
 17. The acoustic distance measuringcircuit of claim 16, wherein the sensing circuit further comprises: afirst correction module having an input coupled to the rising edgedetector and the peak detector, and an output that provides a correctionratio, wherein the correction ratio is a ratio of the first magnitude ofwhen the rising edge of the pulse received from the receiver amplifierintersects the threshold and the magnitude of the pulse received fromthe receiver amplifier at the peak time; and a time of flight correctioncalculation module having an input coupled to the output of the firstcorrection module, an input that receives the digital filter qualityfactor time delay, an input that receives an acoustic transducer qualityfactor time delay, and an output that provides a compensation time thatcalculates a corrected time of flight of the acoustic signal in responseto encountering the obstacle, at a first position, within the predefineddistance relative to the acoustic transducer according to the filteredsignal.
 18. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 17, whereinthe sensing circuit further comprises a time of flight module having aninput coupled to an output of the peak detector, an input coupled to theoutput of the time of flight correction calculation module, and anoutput that provides the corrected time of flight of the acoustic signalin response to the acoustic signal encountering the obstacle.
 19. Theacoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 18, wherein the time offlight module provides the corrected time of flight when thecompensation time, provided by the output of the time of flightcorrection calculation module, is subtracted from the first time of whenthe rising edge of the magnitude of the pulse received from the receiveramplifier intersects the threshold.
 20. The acoustic distance measuringcircuit of claim 18, wherein the digital filter quality factor timedelay is dynamically selected when the magnitude of the pulse receivedfrom the receiver amplifier is detected.
 21. The acoustic distancemeasuring circuit of claim 18, wherein the digital filter quality factortime delay dynamically determines a delay time of the sensing circuit.22. The acoustic distance measuring circuit of claim 21, wherein inresponse to detection of the digital filter quality factor time delaybelow a predetermined quality factor time delay, a transducer qualityfactor time delay is dynamically input when the magnitude of the pulsereceived from the receiver amplifier is detected.